Tuesday, August 30, 2011

The female hummingbird visits often, feeding at both the sugar water feeder and from the flowers. She clearly favors the Lanata. The male with his bright red throat is quicker to flit in and out, not staying in one place long enough for me to draw a bead on him. I will get him soon, i only have to be patient.

The female is rather fearless. Saturday I cleaned and filled the sugar water feeder then sat in a chair no more than 6 feet away, not expecting that the hummingbird would visit until I caught my breath and went back inside. Then hello, who is this? The little lady swooped in on the Lantana and flitted from one flower to another before she appeared to notice me. She rose up a foot or so and faced me squarely and hung there for 5 seconds ( a long time for a hummingbird) then moved to the right then to the left to check me out from several angles. This went on maybe 20 seconds total then she whirled around and quickly checked the feeder again before swooping up into the maple tree towards the fence and disappeared in a flash. She did not seem at all frightened of me, but was curious to see what I was made of before going about her business.

I have read that the female will eat as much as she is able to bulk up before assuming the task of motherhood. Then she will stay on her eggs until they hatch and stay close until they fledge. I think she is getting ready to set eggs. But maybe she has just raised a nest full and is catching up on her groceries. They are really fun to watch. That is the nice thing about being old and gimpy, I have plenty of time to sit and watch.